Nov 30, 2015 Windsor NS, The Long Pond Heritage Classic organizing committee today announced that they will be hosting Guy Lafleur as an honourary guest at this year Long Pond Heritage Hockey Classic.

Guy Lafleur’s career in the NHL began in 1971 following two celebrated seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Quebec Ramparts (G:130 A: 79).

During his fourth season (the year he removed his helmet), Guy came into his stride scoring 53 goals and tallying up 119 points. This was the beginning of an era for both the team and Guy. For the subsequent three years he lead the league in scoring and connected 6 straight years with 50+ goal seasons.

Twice recognized as the league’s MVP, he was one of hockey’s most exciting players and was instrumental in 5 Stanley Cup Championships. Initially retiring in 1984-85, he returned to the game he loved in 1988 with the New York Rangers (1 year) and then with Quebec (2 years). Guy returned permanently at the end of the 90-91 season hanging his skates up professionally after 1,126 games, 560 goals 793 assists and 1,353 points.

Known as “The Flower” guy Damian Lafleur is assured to have many stories and experience to share as part of this year’s Long Pond Heritage Hockey Classic. David Hunter, chair of the organizing committee and President of the Windsor Hockey Heritage Society commented, “We are thrilled to have been able to arrange a player of Guy’s caliber and history with the league. He continues a successful trend we’ve had with the Classic in attracting some of the best professional talent to our event. We’re hopeful that Guy will draw players and banquet attendees for the event to achieve our fund raising goal for the Windsor Hockey Heritage Society and the Birthplace of Hockey programs we undertake.”

This year’s Long Pond Classic Event is being held on January 30th, including a day of hockey for teams and players on famous Long Pond where hockey was first played circa 1800. The day of games are followed by a celebratory banquet and hot stove night. Player and banquet tickets are available by contacting the organizers through LongPondClassic.com or BirthplaceOfHockey.com.

Ric Nattress appeared in 34 games with the Canadiens in 1983–84, and five more the next season, before being traded to the St. Louis Blues for cash before the 1985–86 season.

Nattress played two seasons for the Blues, who traded him to the Calgary Flames after the 1986–87 season for two draft picks. He played four-plus seasons with the Flames before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the ten-player deal on January 2, 1992, which also sent Doug Gilmour to Toronto.

After joining the Philadelphia Flyers for the 1992–93 season, Nattress retired.

In his NHL career, Nattress played in 536 games. He recorded 29 goals and 135 assists. He also appeared in 67 playoff games, scoring five goals and adding ten assists. He was a member of the Sherbrooke Canadiens 1985 Calder Cup, and Calgary Flames team which won the Stanley Cup in 1989.

Nattress has been a successful radio co-host of “Blue & White Tonight”, a post-game show after every Toronto Maple Leafs game on Sportsnet 590 The Fan. He is a sought after speaker.

Rich Sutter of the Sutter family, one of 6 NHL brothers to have played professionally has committed to this years’ Long Pong Heritage Hockey Classic.

David Hunter, chair of the organizing committee for this year’s event was pleased to make the announcement. “We’re thrilled to have somone of Rich’s reputation to join us at this year’s fund raising event”, said Hunter.

Rich Sutter was drafted 10th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1982. During his professional career in the NHL Rich Sutter played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, St Louis Blues, the Tampa Bay Lightning the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks. During his career in the regular season he notched up 874 games, 149 goals, 166 assists and 1,411 minutes in the penalty box.

Adding to this year’s roster, Rich Sutter will join Guy Lafleur as part of this year’s Long Pond Classic which began in 2011 . The event is run by a local volunteer organizing committee which supports the work of the Windsor Hockey Heritage Society in its efforts to promote Windsor as the Birthplace of Hockey.

The Long Pond Heritage Hockey Classic is gearing up for its annual fund raising event of hockey on Long Pond, Hot Stove and celebrity banquet. This year’s event is scheduled for January 30th and promises to be another event that you don’t want to miss.

David Hunter, chairperson of the organizing committee and President of the Windsor Hockey Heritage Society commented, “The committee has been working hard the last few months in sorting out details and making plans for the upcoming event. The front-end of events like this always involves more work than most people know but its critical to ensuring the success of the plans you are making”.

This year’s event is the 5th since it began in 2012. The organizers put on a day of hockey on Long Pond with teams and individual players registering to play. The day’s events on the ice are followed by a celebratory dinner banquet in relaxed fashion with professional players providing Hot Stove hockey talk throughout the evening. As part of the fund raising a silent and bidding auction has typically been held.

In looking forward to this year’s event Mr. Hunter closed by saying, “this year we are expecting the event to be a “10” in more ways than one”. When asked for further information he simply added “Details will follow”.

The organizing committee for the Long Pond Heritage Classic has etched its date in the ice for its 2016 event – Feb 16th. In a meeting held after the event to review this years activities and begin planning of next year the date was decided.

David Hunter, chairperson of the organizing committee commented “We took several factors into consideration including the typical weather in January or February as well as the scheduled date for next year’s Super Bowl. In considering the options the date was decided as Jan 30, 2016. Stay tuned for more information as plans are made and rolled out!”

The original plan for Saturday’s games was for the 3 high school girls teams to play within their division and for the 4 mens teams to play in theirs.It turned our the ladies wanted to beat the mens teams. How can you say “no” to that? You can’t. As a result an updated schedule was created with great games of hockey prevailing once again. It was a tremendous experience for everyone on the ice, around the ice and at the banquet afterwards. We believe the fun that resulted can be seen on all of their faces – and we hope you agree!

On Sunday morning following the Long Pond Classic event the players from the Windsor West-Hants Midget A and Bantam AA teams subscribed to a players clinic with Glenn Anderson and Mike Krushelnyski . They were provided with an amazing workout of skills and technique development for upping their games and it was a pleasure to watch. Although this is only a fraction of the photos from the 2 hour session, it hopefully highlights some of the development work that was undertaken.

On Friday night the re-match was played between the local RCMP and the fire departments of Windsor and Hantsport. The draft held earlier in the day aligned Glenn Anderson and Robert Sweeney with the Fire Department, while Mike Krushelnyski and Dennis Vial played for the RCMP. It was an exciting, fun-filled and high scoring match with the Windsor and Hantsport Fire Departments as the eventual winners of this game. New Boundaries and the Long Pond Classic are very appreciative of the Legends All-Stars Hockey Events for their support and involvement in this event.

With the pending Friday night charity game as a fund raiser for New Boundaries, Mike Krushelnyski and Glenn Anderson from “Legends All-Stars Hockey Events” took time to visit with the group. Due to the of the previous day’s storm, it was a snow-day for the clients. Staff and family on hand were however excited to visit with them and provide an overview of the groups mission and purpose while touring its operation which was greatly appreciated.

On Friday afternoon, when traveling to the Windsor Vision Centre we saw two professionals as part of “Legends All-Stars Hockey Events” in Glenn Anderson and Mike Krushelnyski – thoroughly enjoying meeting and interacting with all the clients and staff in the office… — at Windsor Vision Centre.

The Long Pond Classic has been privileged to share in the fun and excitement of the New Boundaries charity game involving the RCMP vs the Windsor & Hantsport Fire Depts. This year a ‘draft’ was held in Windsor’s council chambers to select the celebrity players from “Legends All-Stars Hockey Events” for each team. With so many Stanley Cup rings in the room, the draw from the hat for choice of players was the ceremonial beginning of the weekend of fun.

The Former On the Road Again host will be in town early next month

The Hants Journal has reported that Wayne Rostad will host the upcoming Long Pond Classic in Windsor Nova Scotia, the Birthplace of Hockey. He is identified in the story as “a man who charmed Canadian audiences from coast to coast for two decades as the host of a popular television series”.